Apparatus for making soap



March 3, 1959 w, L. MORRISON 2,876,082

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SOAP Filed July 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, A Willard L. Morrison y Parker & Currer ATTORNEY March 3, 1959 w. MORRISON 2,876,082

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SOAP Filed July 12, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3 Fig.4

35 36 I .1 I l 6 6 6 r 37 l 34 2 2 2 1 a I INVENTOR, W|Hc1rd L. Morrison By Parker & Correr ATTORNEY March 3, 1959 w. L. MORRISON 2,876,082

' APPARATUS FOR MAKING SOAP Filed July 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR, Willord L. Morrison Parker & Correr ATTORNEY 8. Pat is T; 7

2,876,082 APPARATUS FOR MAKING soAP Willard L. Morrison, Lake Forest, 111., assignor to The Union Stock Yard and Transit Company of Chicago, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 12, 1954, Serial No. 444,437

7 'Claims. (Cl. 23-2905) My invention relates to improvements in methods of making soapand apparatus therefor and has for one object-a soapmaking machine which maybe used for the manufacture of soap in relatively small quantities for domestic and similar use in contrast with the manufacture of soap in large quantities for wholesale and retail distribution.

Another object of my invention isa relatively small soap making apparatus so that the housewife may use the waste greases from her kitchen to make soap.

I propose to provide a relatively small portable soap making machine which may be used in the home or the her 3 through pipe 21.

2,876,082 Pat ted .M r- 3 near the top. 22 indicates an electric heating element to heat water in the boiler chamber 6 so that when the boiler- 6 is'charged with water and the water is boiled, it will, just as in the conventional coffee percolator, be expelled by steam pressure from the boiler 6 to the mixing chamw 23 indicates any suitable hose connection through which water may be supplied to the boiler. Water passes through the duct 24 controlled by the solenoid valve 25', most of the water being discharged through the pipe.

.. 26- into the boiler 6 but some of the water being-also (115-: charged through the pipe 27 into the mixing chamber,

relative flow through the pipes 26 and 27 being-manually adjusted by valves 28 and 29. 30 is a manual control switch which opens and closes an electric circuit supplied with electric power from any suitable source through the conductor 31. Closing the switch 30 activates the sole 'noid valve 25 and allows water to enter both theboiler' 6 and the mixing chamber 3. As the water rises, it raises a float 35 closing a float switch 36 to energize the heat ing coils 22. When the operator closes the switch he also sets the timer 37.

When the water level reaches a predetermined point, a float 32 tilts a switch 33 to deactivate the solenoidvalve 25- to stop the flow of water into' the boiler and mixing chamber.

laundry for the manufacture of liquid soap in such condition and quantity that it can be used as soon as the soap has been manufactured. This machine does away with the expense involved in drying the soap for storage and shipment. It also eliminates the expense of returning the soap to its original liquid condition at the point ofuse so that it may serve as a detergent. It is well known that until the soap is mixed with water to make it a liquid soap, no cleaning or detergent value can be obtained from it.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view, with parts in section, showing the soap machine of my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1;

The operator will have put into the chamber a suitable amount of grease, alkali and any other desired soap making materials, this being termed a soap charge. Un-"- til the temperature of the water in the mixing chamber 3 reaches a point at which the initial water supply and the soap making materials can be mixed,a switch 34 remains open and no rotation of the motor occurs. As the temperature of the water in the boiler rises, the heat will cook the soap charge; As soon as the temperature in the boiler chamber reaches a predetermined point the thermostat switch 34 closes a circuit through the motor Figure 3 is a section along the line 3--3 of Figure 2; v

Figure 4 is a part section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, viewed in the opposite direction from Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a back view in elevation in the direction of arrows on 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section along the line 66 of Figure 4', i

the upper aperture in the housing and offset at 5 to make a tight closure with the lower, aperture in the housing. This provides a closed boiler'chamber 6 around the mixing bowl 3. 7 is a discharge pipe leading from the bottom of the mixing bowl 3 through the wall of the base 2 to a valve controlled discharge spout 8.

9 and 10 are concentric mixing shafts, the shaft 10 carrying a frame 11 from which project inwardly mixing paddles 12. The frame is supported at its lower end on a sleeve 13 concentric with the shaft 9. The sleeve is socketed in a bearing boss 14. Mixing paddles 15 extend outwardly from the shaft 9. 16 is an electric motor in a housing 17 on the housing 1. The motor drivesa miter pinion through a shaft 18 in mesh with miter gears 19 and 20 respectively mounted on the shafts 9 and 10 so that rotation of the shaft 18 causes the stirring or. mix-v ing paddles 12 and 15 to rotate-in opposite directions,

21 is a pressure pipe which extends from the boiler. chamber6 near the bottom through the wall of the mix-. ing chamber 3 fordischarge into themixingvchamber the heating coils so that theywill not burn out.

16 to cause the mixing paddles 12 and 15 to rotate in op posite directions.

When such a temperature is reached the motor rotates, mixing the soap charge with the initial quantity of water. Meanwhile the temperature in the boiler and in the mixing chamber continues to rise to a point at which the water boils, and pressure generated therein expels the hot water from the boiler 'to fill the. mixing chamberf In the meantime, the timer has broken the circuit to the solenoid valve, and when the water flows down from the float switch 33, the solenoid valve will not be opened. When the water level in boiler 6 falls below a certain point'a float 35 actuates the switch 36 to disconnect Mean while the motor continues to actuate the mixing pad-' dles mixing the soap charge with the initial water with the additional watersupply, and motor rotation continues until the liquid soap is thoroughly mixed and completed." The liquid soap can be withdrawn from the apparatus into a suitable'r'eservoir at any time when needed. The use, operation and function of my. invention are as follows: I In the ordinary manufacture of soapwhere it is packaged and delivered for sale in the store, the manufacturer must insure against the soap becoming rancid during long periods of storage and exposure to a wide range of temperatures. Thus, the manufacturer is required to use special tallows, greases, or oils, but, unfortunately, these are the fats least satisfactory for saponification. Accordingly, one objectof my invention is a method and apparatus for use generally in house? holds, restaurants, and the like, which enables the housewife or restaurateur to manufacture small quantities of;

" liquid soap cheaply and easily, as needed, using ordinary,

or discoloration, since the soap produced is to be used' substantially immediately or in the near future.

Itis well-known that water must be added to soap in any form, whether cake, powder, flakes or chips, in order to obtain any cleaning action. I provide a structure and method whereby certain types of readily available raw materials may be simply and easily converted into readily usable liquid or liquid-gel soap.

In my invention, a soap-making cartridge or soap charge may be provided for use in the structure shown in vthe drawings. On the other hand, the raw materials may not takethe form of a ready made charge but may beonly, an aggregation, in powder or flake form, of the necessary fats, tallows, greases, caustics, builders and the like. Regardless of its form, the soap charge is deposited. in the mixing bowl. Water is then supplied to the-boiler:and also. a small quantity of initial water may b6? supplied to the mixing bowl. The heating element is energized to heat andboil the water in the boiler- As the water in the boiler is heated, cooking and saponification'of'the soap charge in the mixing bowl takes place. As the temperature of the water approaches the boiling point, va large portion of the charge in the mixing chamber will be saponified. At a predetermined temperature, the switch 34 energizes the motor to begin the mixing action of the paddles. When the boiling point of the Water is reached, a percolator action takes place to automatically discharge hot water and steam into the mixing chamber. To prevent the escape of the hot water and steam, a cover may-be provided over the top of the mixing chamber. However, I have not shown such-a cover as this is considered optional.

The water entering the mixing bowl immediately contacts a partially saponified charge and is thoroughly mixed with it as the paddles are in operation. Thus, the saponified charge is completely dissolved and is thor-. oughly mixed with the full quantity ofwater from the boiler.

After the soap charge and the hot water from-the boiler havebeen thoroughly mixed, the boiler has cooled so that the thermostat 34 opens and the mixing motor is stopped, The soap solution can then be drained off'to a suitable reservoir, or the like. Onthe other hand, the -soap solutioncould stay in the mixing chamber until all;of. it is intermittently withdrawn and used;

I have stated that the soap charge is-initially placed inthe mixing chamber and saponified with an initial charge of water under heat fromthe boiler, and at a predetermined temperature in' the boiler the: mixing paddles are energized. With certain types of. ingredients or-.-charges, it might be desirablevto start the paddles immediately after the charge is put in the mixing chamber 'so'th'at the paddles would disintegrate,orpthoroughly pulverize theingredients of the charge. Thus the charge would bethoroughly mixed with theinitial water while it is being cooked and saponified. At a predetermined time. after. adequate saponification has taken place, the percolating actionwould follow, the rest of the water would enter the'rnixing bowl. It shouldalso be :understood? that the initial charge of water may be either mixed directly with the soap charge when it is :prepared," or itcould merely be poured in when the soap charge is put in the mixing chamber. In either case, the pipe 27 and "valve 29would be unnecessary. The entire operation could be controlled manually. For example, manually actuatable switches could beprovided for the mix ing motor and heating elements instead of the thermostat and'float switch. Water could be put-in the boiler up to a certain level without the-necessity of-the-sol'enoid valve:

InFigure7', the -thermostat-is' also-provided with a rheostat contact-'38 so that a selected amount of resistance can be put-in series-with themotor to-operate-it' at any selected speed as soon as the main switch 30 is closed. The rheostat also has an ofi position 38a.

While I have shown anddescribed the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that numerous modifications, alterations, substitutions, and changes can be made in addition to those set forth above, without departing from the fundamental theme of my invention. I therefore wish that my invention be unrestricted except as by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A home soap-making apparatus comprising a water chamber, a separate soap-making chamber adapted to receive raw materials for making soap, means for supplying water to said water chamber, heating means for heating said water responsive to the level of the water in the chamber for automatically energizing and deenergiz ing said treating means, conveyor means adapted to convey said water to said soap-making chamber when the water has'reached a predetermined temperature, means for mixing said raw materials including a shaft extending into said soap-making chamber, a raw materials outlet in said chamber extending into said soap-making chamber, mixing means extending laterally from said shaft and rotatable therewith, power means for rotating said shaft, and automatic means responsive to the temperature of the water in the chamber for controlling the power means.

2. A soap-making apparatus, including a hot water chamber and a water supply therefor, a water heating element arranged adjacent the lower portionof the hot Water chamber, a separate frusto-co-nical mixing chamber within the hot water chamber, means for conducting water upwardly from a pointadjacent the bottom of the hot water chamber to a point adjacent the top of the mixing chamber, support means within the mixing chamber adapted to support a soap-making charge in position to be contacted by water entering the mixing chamber from the conducting means, stirringmeans within the mixing chamber, automatic means'responsive to the temperature of the water in the hot water chamber for energizing the stirring means, and a valve controlleddischarge for the mixing chamber.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which the hot water-and mixing chambers are concentric.

4. A home soap-making machine comprising a water chamber, a separate soap-making chamber surrounded by the water chamber adapted to receive predetermined quantities of raw materials for the making of soap, heat ingmeans for heating the Water in the water chamber, automatic means responsive to the water level in the water chamber for energizing the heating means, water conveying means adapted to convey the water from the water chamber to the soap-making chamber, and a discharge outlet for the soap-making chamber.

5. Thestructure of claim 4 further characterized in thatthe hot water and soap-making chambers are concentrically arranged.

6. A home soap-making machine, comprised of a water chamber, a separate soap-making chamber surrounded by the water chamber'adapted to receive predetermined quantities of raw materials for the making of soap, the chambers being the same height, one Within the other, withtheir upper surfaces in the same plane, the water chamber being annular in cross section throughout its length, meansfor heating the water in the water chamber, water conveying means-adapted to convey the water from the water chamber to the soap-making chamber, and automatically operated stirrer means in the soap-making chamber.

7. Ahome soap-making: means comprising a container adapted to contain a quantity of water, a separate, scapmaking chamber, inthe container in heat transfer:rela-. ti'onship to the waterin the'container, means forheating' the=water,'- andzmeans for'supplying the'water tothe container and for conveying the water to the soapemaking chambet'includinga substantially vertical standpipe within the container, said standpipe having its open lower and References Cited in the file of this patent adjacent the lower wall of the container and spaced there- UNITED STATES PATENTS from, a filling opening adjacent an upper portion of the 4 1883 pipe, a lateral take-01f portion on the standplpe mter- 284'313 Longmore Sept mediate the lower end and the filling opening, and throttle 5 gg i E; 2?, I 1' Im 1 means m the standplpe mtemdate the fil mg 2,800,398 Morrison July 23,1957

and the take-ofi portion, said take-01f portion having an open end extending into the soap-making chamber. 

1. A HOME SOAP-MAKING APPARATUS COMPRISING A WATER CHAMBER, A SEPARATE SOAP-MAKING CHAMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE RAW MATERIALS FOR MAKING SOAP, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO SAID WATER CHAMBERR, HEATING MENAS FOR HEATING SAID WATER RESPONSIVE TO THE LEVEL OF THE WATER IN THE CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATICALLY ENERGIZING AND DEENERGIZING SAID TREATING MEANS, CONVEYOR MEANS ADAPTED TO CONVEY SAID WATER TO SAID SOAP-MAKING CHAMBER WHEN THE WATER HAS REACHED A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE, MEANS FOR MIXING SAID RAW MATERIALS INCLUDING A SHAFT EXTENDING INTO SAID SOAP-MAKING CHAMBER, A RAW MATERIALS OUTLET IN SAID CHAMBER EXTENDING INTO SAID SOAP-MAKING CHAMBER, MIXING MEANS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID SHAFT AND 